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Last edited by 100%Israel (talk | contribs) 2 seconds ago. (Update) |
| Battle of Um Katef | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Six-Day War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Israel | Egypt | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ariel Sharon | General Sa'ad el Shazly | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Israeli 38th Division | Egyptian 2nd Infantry Division | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Infantry, armored brigades, and paratroopers | Entrenched infantry, tanks, and artillery | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 40 killed, 140 wounded | 600 killed, 3,000 captured | ||||||
The Battle of Um Katef, fought on June 5–6, 1967, was one of the critical early battles of the Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt. The battle took place at Um Katef, also known as Abu-Ageila, a heavily fortified Egyptian stronghold in the Sinai Peninsula. The battle was decisive in opening the way for the Israeli advance through the Sinai and marked a significant defeat for the Egyptian army.
Background
editIn the lead-up to the Six-Day War, tensions between Israel and Egypt were at an all-time high, with Egypt massing troops in the Sinai Peninsula and blocking Israeli shipping through the Straits of Tiran. When war broke out on June 5, 1967, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike, aiming to quickly neutralize the Egyptian forces and seize control of the Sinai Peninsula.
The Egyptian forces had established a strong defensive line along the Sinai, with Um Katef serving as a critical junction in their defenses. The Egyptian 2nd Infantry Division, reinforced by armor and artillery, had heavily fortified the position with trenches, minefields, and artillery emplacements, making it one of the toughest defensive positions in the Sinai.
The Battle
editThe Israeli attack on Um Katef was led by **Ariel Sharon**, commanding the Israeli 38th Division. The plan was to breach the Egyptian defenses with a combined assault using infantry, armor, and paratroopers in a coordinated, multi-pronged attack.
On the night of June 5, 1967, the Israeli forces began their offensive with an artillery barrage to soften up the Egyptian defenses. Following this, Sharon ordered an infantry assault on the front lines, supported by armored brigades. Meanwhile, Israeli paratroopers were dropped behind enemy lines to attack from the rear and disrupt Egyptian communications.
The Egyptians put up stiff resistance, using their well-fortified positions to inflict heavy casualties on the attacking Israeli forces. However, the Israeli use of flanking maneuvers and the simultaneous attack from multiple directions began to overwhelm the Egyptian defenses.
Breach and Victory
editBy June 6, after fierce fighting, the Israeli forces managed to break through the main defensive lines at Um Katef. The Egyptian forces, unable to maintain their positions, began to retreat in disarray. The Israeli capture of Um Katef opened the way for their rapid advance into the Sinai Peninsula, cutting off key Egyptian supply routes and isolating large portions of the Egyptian army.
The Egyptian 2nd Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties, with around 600 killed and over 3,000 taken prisoner. In contrast, Israeli casualties, while significant, were much lower, with around 40 killed and 140 wounded.
Aftermath
editThe Battle of Um Katef was a decisive victory for Israel in the Sinai front. The fall of the fortified position at Um Katef marked the collapse of Egyptian defenses in the central Sinai, allowing the Israeli army to continue their advance toward the Suez Canal. Within days, the Israeli forces had captured the entire Sinai Peninsula, effectively removing Egypt from the war.
The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of Israel’s strategy of rapid, combined arms warfare, and it played a key role in the overall success of the Israeli campaign in the Sinai. Ariel Sharon’s leadership during the battle earned him significant acclaim and contributed to his later political career.
Legacy
editThe Battle of Um Katef remains one of the most studied engagements of the Six-Day War, particularly for its use of combined arms tactics and the successful coordination of air, armor, and infantry forces in overcoming heavily fortified positions. The battle also highlighted the vulnerabilities of the Egyptian army’s static defense strategy and their underestimation of Israeli capabilities.